Basketball

     One year I had a class that got into playing basketball. Well, I guess you could call it basketball. There were a lot of fuzzy spots on the rules, the teacher never having taken an interest in the sport before. But we made do, and made up rules we weren't sure about on the spot. This particular year there was an even number of boys and girls in the class, so they often liked to play with boys versus girls for teams.
    Of course, as is usually the case, the boys team was bigger, faster, stronger, and better at making baskets. The girls left the court exhausted and without a single point to their names. But then something changed. The girls learned to work together. They figured out how to pass. Not grand, long passes, but short, accurate ones. They learned to back each other up and to wait in an unguarded spot for the ball. The boys, meanwhile, continued to play a version of each man for himself. They preferred to snatch the ball, sometimes even from their own teammates, and make a drive for the basket, hoping to snag the glory of the moment. The boys couldn't believe it when the girls actually started winning. Their dismay was so complete I almost felt sorry for them. 
    How have you found the basketball games in your life lately? In order to stay faithful in these last days, we must learn to work together. We need to trust our teammates. We need to learn to share our burdens with others. We must find the relief in learning to give and take. We have to blend together into a unified team, not attempting to become the MVP by doing all the work ourselves. 
    There are days, yes, that it looks like the rest of the team has entirely lost all common sense. We are left standing unguarded before the basket while everyone else seems to be busy with the ball down the court. But it is true that if the Evil One has left us thus, he surely considers us no threat.
    Sometimes we feel it is our duty to carry our burdens with no help. Perhaps we haven't learned to trust our fellow teammates. Perhaps we don't trust our captain or coach or the Owner of the Team. Maybe we are too proud to admit to needing help. Don't be! One player is never expected to stand against an entire team. 
    There are even days we try to take other people's burdens, snatching straight from their dismayed fingers a ball that it is not our job to carry, although it is not the right time and we are not in the right position for the job. It sometimes seems so difficult to hear the quiet voice from the sidelines over our own eager minds.
    Blending together, we will become a force to be reckoned with. As we learn to act with one mind toward the common goal of Heaven, we will learn also that there are days we need to give up the things that we have valued so much. Other days we will need to accept that we have work to do, not just relaxing on the sidelines. As we learn this back and forth, we will find ourselves growing together with the rest of the team.
    The Psalmist says Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! (Psalms 133:1) We don't have to do it by our own humanness. On our own we are not able to make the kind of sacrificing of our ideas that being part of the team requires. Of ourselves we cannot always bear the entire burden. There are times we acquire a twisted ankle. There are days the other team sends guards so large and fierce we can't begin to see a way past them. But remember, we are part of a team, and the Owner has promised ...where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them (Matthew 18:20). 
    I want to learn to play a better game, to trust my team, to pass the ball, to not try to be my own MVP. And to you, I would like to say thank you. Thank you for being faithful. It is a privilege and blessing beyond compare to play beside you on the same team.
    Wishing you a blessed day!

Psalm 13

     My heart was so heavy I could hardly bear the pain and grief, the aching turmoil inside. I took up my Bible and began to read, searching for relief. And then I found Psalm 13. The very first verse caught at my heart: How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me? Here was someone else, crying out to God in the same way I felt in my own heart!
    In the next verse, King David continued his agonized questioning: How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? How long shall mine enemy be exalted over me? What a perfect description! I, too, was bound up with conflicting thoughts. I felt beleaguered by the Devil, searching desperately for God's hand.
    Consider and hear me, O Lord my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death. Yes, oh, yes! I needed light and direction. Surely this dark confusion would lead to death. Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; and those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved. "Well, God," I thought, perhaps a bit bitterly, "aren't You supposed to be sending in the cavalry about now?" Was there to be no happy ending to David's plight? If he, even the king of God's own choosing, got no relief, how could I expect it? My anguished soul turned to verse eight:
    But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation. I will sing unto the Lord, because he hath dealt bountifully with me. And there the Psalm ended, with David singing praises in the valley, being thankful in the storm, seeing beauty in the midst of ashes.
    My heart filled with hope and my eyes with tears. Clearly God had sent me this message. Surely I was to take the same steps as David, trusting Him, thanking Him, praising Him, recognizing His mercy in the midst of trial.
    Throughout the next few days, Satan continued to attack me with doubts and fears, questions and darkness. When the weight became too heavy, I would find Psalm 13 in my Bible or on my phone. I would read it again and again until the light broke through and my heart became calm. 
    Maybe something about this experience felt familiar to you, too. The darkness and fears that Satan is attempting to use as a device that separates us from God. The doubts and hopelessness, the days it seems there is no reason or way to begin to trust. The Evil One is a master at putting wedges in our hearts that make us believe God no longer cares nor understands, and I must fight alone.

    We cannot understand all the things God allows us to face, but as the familiar quote says, "When God closes the door, I will praise Him in the hallway." Whatever the trial or tribulation I find myself in, whatever disasters befall in the world around me, I want to turn toward the One whom my soul loves. I want to choose faith and hope in Him, and let His praises re-echo in the hallway.

Beanie Babies

     Gina was a large-hearted little girl. One of the great joys in her life was to give gifts. There came a day when she arrived at school and began pulling Beanie Baby after Beanie Baby out of her bag. With great fanfare she began to dole them out to her classmates. Of course, I assumed Gina had permission to make gifts of the toys. She didn't. Apparently the Beanie Babies were meant to be a keepsake, and Gina had left the house without her parents being any the wiser about her intentions. 
    When was the last time you gave a gift? We are all familiar with the good feeling that comes from giving something to someone else. I've been impressed lately with a gift we can give daily to our Heavenly Father. While we all understand the big gifts of our hearts and our time, how about the smaller areas of self-denial? 
    Maybe you sigh when you read that word. I do. Self-denial is not a fun word. It's not an easy word. It's work. But just as Gina received joy from giving away Beanie Babies, we can receive joy from denying ourselves. What if we changed our mindset? What if we saw self-denial as a gift we can give instead of a burden of suffering?
    I've been attempting to practice this more. When critical thoughts come into my mind and I choose to let them go, I turn my heart heavenward and whisper, "That's my gift for you, today, God." When I choose to skip over yet another discouraging story in the news, I remind myself that it's for Him. When I choose right over wrong or white over gray, I know it is but a tiny gift; yet I also know that Creator recognizes how little I have to give.
    He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. (Matthew 10:37-38) For most of us, the self-denial God is asking in daily life is not the big things. It's the little things, the Beanie Babies. 
    Let's be willing to give our wonderful Savior the gifts that we can, our daily choices to follow after Him instead of our own desires. It won't be easy, but the joy will be worth it. Let's turn our self-denial into gifts of praise, for He has certainly given us many things to thank Him for!

Healing Truths

     Nancy sat at her desk. Her face was troubled. "Is there something you need to tell me?" I asked. 
   "Yes!" she turned big eyes on me and blurted it out. She had not been honest about something. I saw tears began to well up as she made her confession. 
    I took her into my arms. "Thank you for being honest," I said. "You had to be very brave to do that. Now we can figure out how to fix it."
    Oh, the relief of truth! When we can face ourselves squarely and say, "This is who I am. I have this problem. I need to work with this." But there are so many of us who rely on all the wrong truths. In fact, they are often not truths at all.
    You know the ones. The lies that are sometimes presented to us as truth.

    "I'm stupid." 

    "I don't have any friends." 

    "I'm a failure." 
    Instead of listening to these perceptions of ourselves, we need to chase after the truths of God. But how? What truths are of God and which ones are designed by the evil one to throw us into a dark valley of hopelessness?
    We find the answer in John 8:32: "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." The truths we are listening to should be truths that are either positive or healing. Seeking after the truths of God will not lead to despair, but hope.
    When Nancy crumpled into my arms at the relief of facing her truth, we together could work toward healing and a better future instead of her allowing a perception of an awful child to build in her head.
    We, too, can run to the mighty arms of God as we recognize our healing truths. It is a healing truth to say, "I struggle with pride," and really mean it. It is a healing truth to say, "I made some serious mistakes that probably hurt someone else, but I want things to be different." It is a positive truth to say, "I am a survivor."
    God will not lead us into a negative truth without providing a glimpse of light. He will not give us an honest look at who we are without indicating direction for change.
    Are you afraid of being honest with yourself? Don't be. Crumple into the arms of the Almighty God and allow Him to dry your tears. Let His healing take place. His love for you will make a way through any of the truths you may fear to face.

Boxes

This post is a little different than most. I hope each of you will be able to interpret the message however it fits your present circumstances. I've been trying to understand my own boxes, and invite you all to take the journey as well.

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison 

to them that are bound. (Isaiah 61:1)

 

Flowers grow in boxes.

 

So do mice.

    And rabbits.

       And even fish.

 

People do not.

 

But people like boxes.

 

Some people like a lot of boxes. They use their boxes to build tall buildings. Their tall buildings make them feel powerful.

 

Some people like boxes to put checkmarks in so they can feel accomplished.

 

Some people like to use boxes to organize, categorize, and make things neat and clean.

 

Some people like boxes because they can use them to create beautiful crafts and exciting ideas.

 

Some people like boxes with locks. They can lock precious things away in their boxes and keep them safe.

 

And some people like to put other people in boxes. They try to stuff in all the arms and legs and scarves. Crazy, isn’t it? I mean, most people aren’t box shaped.

 

Then there are some people who like big, strong boxes. They use their big, strong boxes to hide from all the things they are afraid of- like big scary monsters and pirates and mosquitoes.

But boxes were not made for people.

 

People were made to live outside boxes.

 

People were meant to share their boxes, not build tall towers.

 

Boxes should help people accomplish things, but people shouldn’t panic if they can’t put checks in all the boxes.

 

Boxes definitely should be used to organize, but you can’t organize a bouquet. Well, you could, but it might look a little funny.

 

Boxes are fantastic for creating new ideas, but you can create new things out of tin cans and juice cartons and an old sock, too.

 

And boxes should certainly be used to lock away precious things. But most precious things can’t grow if they’re locked away.

 

People don’t grow if they are in boxes either.

 

And people were never meant to hide inside big, strong boxes. It’s really hard to eat ice cream inside a box, even if you cut a hole to put your arm through. You can’t ride a merry go round. It can be hard to even talk to all the people standing outside that would love to be your friends.

 

But people like boxes, and they probably always will. Boxes are not all good, but they’re not all bad, either.

 

Do you have some boxes?

    Maybe they’re dusty, attic boxes.

    Maybe they’re shiny foil boxes.

    Maybe it’s just one- a carved, wooden coffee table box.

    Or maybe your boxes are the kind you put little checkmarks in.

 

Now that you’ve thought about it, do you really need your boxes? It could be you’ve decided to get rid of them. But how do you get rid of boxes?

 

Some boxes can be made into a campfire. You can even invite other people over to roast marshmallows.

 

Some boxes can be given away to someone else who has a dream and needs a box to make it come true. Artists are silly people who will even use ratty, ragged boxes to create something new!

 

Maybe you could use your boxes to build a flowerbed.

 

What’s the best thing about getting rid of boxes? It’s hard to choose! But getting rid of boxes makes it so you can look at other people, and not just your boxes.

 

Getting rid of your boxes makes it a lot easier to eat ice cream and ride on merry go rounds.

 

And once you get rid of your boxes you can finally talk to the people who would love to be your friends.

 

Remember, flowers grow in boxes.

 

So do mice and fish and rabbits.

 

People do not.

 

Hiding Places

     Hiding places are fascinating. You can visit historical places where criminals have hidden from the law and places where innocent people have hidden from criminals. Hiding places have been created underground, behind walls, inside vehicles, and on islands. They've been used by Corrie Ten Boom, Anne Frank, Butch Cassidy, and Blackbeard. Some hiding places are large. Others have barely enough room for one person to carefully fold himself in. A priest  spent four days in a cramped hole with no food, water, or sleep as soldiers watched and waited for him to come out.
    Thou art my hiding place and my shield; I hope in thy word. Thus speaks David in Psalm 119:114. What a source of comfort we have at our disposal! When we are hidden in God, we need not worry that His hiding place will be breached. Although our hearts may sometimes tremble in fear, we can always trust the One who has hidden us. 
    Our hiding spot may not always feel comfortable to the flesh, but it is safe. There, our longing for security is filled, even as we do without things that have been important to us in times past. We learn to be quiet and listen to the gentle voice of our Refuge. When we feel alone, there is a Comforter. We feed on the mercy and love of the One who hides us.
    He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most high shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty (Psalms 91:1)  In spite of the beauty of the offer of security, it's not fun to go into hiding. Yet as we learn to venture deeper into His hiding place by recognizing His beauty around us, admiring the gifts He has provided, and gaining a deeper understanding of salvation, we also learn to find joy. 
    In the midst of fear, we find ourselves drawing deeper into this place of refuge. Our hearts turn more toward our Creator and the safety He provides. In submission to His will we find it is still possible to hear His voice and hold His hand, no matter what terrors prevail about us. Do not wait! His welcome is ready, His arms open. There is room for all to hide within His love.

Humility List

     I've been thinking a lot lately about humility. Humility is probably as far away from our human tendencies as we can get. So I started a list of ways humility could show itself in one's life. I don't have a deep enough understanding of humility to make a conclusive list, but these are the things I've been thinking about:

• Humility recognizes no rights outside of the right to follow Jesus.

• Because humility has no rights, humility will not be the cause of friction.

• Humility shares thoughts and ideas, even when they are different than others in the room.

• Humility, in vulnerability, is able to share struggles and be open about hurts.

• Humility can reach out to others without worrying that the overtures will be interpreted as awkward.

• Humility is willing to try new things and explore the edges of comfort zones.

• Humility can be quiet in the face of false accusation.

• Because humility understands that others are important, humility learns patience.

• Humility forgives.

• Humility is able to accept reproof because humility has accepted it is flawed.

• Humility is willing to use talents, even if it knows it is not the best.

• Humility is also willing to let the talents of others shine.

• Humility understands that it must let go of the ideal of perfection.

• Humility seeks to know the hearts of others instead of making up its mind based on appearances.

• Humility is overwhelmed by thankfulness for the love of God because humility recognizes it doesn't deserve anything.

• Humility is able to give true love to others,

• And accept love from others.

• Humility is willing to ask questions when it doesn't understand.

• Humility thinks of others at a social function, not itself.

• Humility avoids pretense. 

• Humility is willing to be quiet

• And willing to speak up.

• Humility will hit "publish" on this post without worrying that people will find it boring or monotonous or that they will judge my failures. 

    The list could go on and on, getting more personal with the little things of our daily lives that come up during interactions with our families and friends. I'm sure you've already thought of many more ways humility impacts a person's life as you've read this. I'd love to hear them. 

    I enjoyed looking for verses on humility. Two that I like are Proverbs 22:4: By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honor, and life and Ephesians 4:2: With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love. I especially appreciate the last part of this verse that talks about how humility gives us more ability to love. 

    I would like to understand humility more. It is the path of humility that leads to Heaven, and it is that path I wish to travel. The beautiful thing? I know it is possible because humility is the same path my Jesus takes, and I know He will travel with me.